Just to clear something up....

[Jackofalltrades]

Increases the chance we take a BPA at 28

Fixed.

[cgarsmoker]

Good then. Now he will have more time to do good deeds off the field.

Spoken like a first class prick.

[Haddonfield-71]

This is straight business and I love it ! It's time we started acting like one. I will miss smitty, he's been one of the best panthers ever. But it had to end at some point, hopefully he can make more coin on another team. Trade up for Kelvin and bring in J.Jones...superbowl. IMHO

[raleigh-panther]

It is a business

We all know it

Unitas, Rice, Montana all treated badly

Still this could have been handled a lot better for a man who crawled to the sideline with a broken leg rather than have people see him on a stretcher and a man who contributed so much.

Was he paid yes, but that doesn't mean he should not have had just a little respect.

Disappointing Gettleman. Disappointing.

[4Corners]

Not a jerk? Tell that to the people of Firethorne CC (where he used to live). My friends dad was on the HOA and didn't have many positive things to say about him. He had no reason to lie about this. 

[4Corners]

It is a business

We all know it

Unitas, Rice, Montana all treated badly

Still this could have been handled a lot better for a man who crawled to the sideline with a broken leg rather than have people see him on a stretcher and a man who contributed so much.

Was he paid yes, but that doesn't mean he should not have had just a little respect.

Disappointing Gettleman. Disappointing.

 

Something else that has grabbed my attention regarding Smith and the team during the past few days; Rivera was mighty quick to jump in line and conform to Gettleman's statements when he was asked about Smitty and his future with his team. 

[SpeedOFLight]

I remember when I first met smitty. It was in 2003 which was weeks after the Super Bowl loss. He came to Winston Salem along with Rucker and Foster. I remember approaching his to get my autograph signed. I didn't know what to expect and I heard some negative things about him. It was the exact opposite though. I met a guy who was hilarious and joked with me along with some friends. He signed my NFC championship shirt. People who say all these mean things about him never met him. He is a great guy and very humble. He took on the example of Jesus had laid out and washes the feet of strangers. Awesome guy in my book

[TheRed]

I love Smith's fire as a player.  But quite frankly, he is a complete ass and dick as a person.  And that is a fact.

 

lol

[jarhead]

he is very moody and if you doesnt like you......wrath you shall feel.

 

 

media-wise, smart players/people use the media for their benefit. turn a negative to a positive gos a long way here.  that or never talk to them, which is against nfl rules. 

Everyone is moody towards people they do not like.

[Jackofalltrades]

Everyone is moody towards people they do not like.

Untrue.

[fieryprophet]

He is a complex individual, just like any other person. He's done a lot of good, and some bad too.

Ugh, this feels like a breakup.

[Keith Moons Liver]

The good and bad of Smittys personality can both be true- they don't cancel each other. 

[Jimmy]

His jersey isn't in the team store online (via panthers.com).  Has this always been the case, I don't do much online shopping?  Not trying to read into anything but if it has been and now its not, hmmmm...... 

 

 

[Fan01]

Great players almost never ever ride off into the sunset.  They used to being great and hang on too long (although I don't think this is the case with Smith)  I don't think anyone can argue his present play on the field is worth the money we're paying him.  The thing I love about Gettlemen is he knows what a player is worth and he's not emotional when it comes to business decisions.  

 

I loved Smith as a player and enjoyed watching him grow as a player and as a man.  He's come a long way.  He's given the city of Charlotte and the Panthers a great deal but don't mitigate what the Panthers have done for him.  They overlooked numerous incidents and paid him a lot of money over the years.  They've treated him fairly and I don't think they've done anything really that bad in how they handled the situation.  Could they have taken him behind closed doors and said he may be cut.  Sure.  But in the grand scheme of things both sides have benefited greatly over the years.  And Smith will still retire a Panther whenever that time comes.